Bbidle attachment



T. L. STEELE.

BRIDLE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1918.

1,322,367 Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

TOM L. STEELE, OF DALHART, TEXAS.

BRIDLE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed June 1'7, 1918. Serial No. 240,437.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOM L. STEELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dalhart, in the county of Dallam and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in harness and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a novel form of connection for the usual blind or winker brace of a bridle, whereby the breaking of the brace due to the relative movement be tween the same and the blind of the bridle, caused by the motion of the horses head when in action, thus providing a durable and strong connection as well as efltecting a material saving upon part of a user.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to rovide a connection of the character descri ed which is simple in construction and which can be attached to the conventional form of bridle with but slight alteration thereto.

Other and further improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of parts will be appreciated from the description to follow, which for a clear understanding of the invention should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown for the purpose of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the blinds of a bridle and portions of the blind or winker braces, portions of one of the blinds being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail of the same taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 3, a portion of the blind being removed, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view therethrough.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters will designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1) represents the several blinds of a bridle and Z) the blind or winker braces therefor, it of course being understood in this connection that said braces are connected at certain.- of their ends to the blinds while the remaining ends thereof converge and are connected to the headstrap of a bridle.

The improved connection includes pivotally oin'ed elements designated by the numerals 1 and 2, the element 1 being formed with a curved shoulder or bearing portion 3 while the upper end of the same is apertured and reduced as at 4:. As will be noted, the adjacent end of the element 2 is bifurcated and has a pocket 5 arranged in the same between the bifurcated parts for receiving the reduced end 4 therein and for limiting the pivotal movement of the same and said element 1. The element 2 is also provided with a suitable form of socket for receiving the adjacent end of the blind brace 72, which brace can be connected thereto by a rivet 6 or similar fastening device. To pivotally connect the adjacent portions of the connecting elements 1 and 2, a pivot pin 7 is passed therethrough and is formed to prevent undue displacement or movement. To allow the connection to be engaged with the blind Z), the lower portion thereof is formed with a shank which is apertured and which is arranged adjacent the usual metal insert 8 of the ordinary blind Z) and is secured thereto by passing rivets through the same and said blind, said rivets being indicated by the numeral 9.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood by workers skilled in the art that I have provided an exceedingly simple and effective form of connection for the winker braces and blinds of a bridle, whereby the breaking of the brace will be prevented irrespective of the extent of wear of the same. Due to the pivotal connection between the several elements 1 and 2 of said connection, it will be readily understood that the motion of the horses head when in action will be compensated for and as a consequence the continuous flexing of the winker brace at the point of its connection with the blind will be entirely eliminated.

The construction of my improved device is such as to permit its attachment to, the usual form of bridle'blind and Winker brace with but slight alteration thereto. However, if desired, the same can of course be applied to a bridle during the making or manufacturing of the same.

Manifestly, the construction shown is ca Fab f consid o ification a s h modification as is Within the scope of my claims, I consider Within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a blind and blind brace of a bridle, a hinged connection therefor including an element having one end thereof reduced and n bifurcated element formed with a pocket for receiving the reduced end of said first element therein and between said bifurcated parts, means for pivotally connecting the adjacent portions of said elements, said connection having its opposite ends connected to the blind and the brace.

:2. The combination with winker braces and blinds of a bridle, of pivotal connections between the braces and blinds comprising thimble-like members fastened upon the braces and having bifurcated ends, the bifurcations being formed With recesses medially thereof, members fixed to the blinds and having" ends engaged in the bifurcations, reduced portions formed on the ends 01? less size than the recesses and received therein, and pivots passed transversely through the bifurcations in the thimbledike men'ibers and engaged in the last named members for pivot/ally connectingthe latter with the thimbledike members.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

TOM L. STEELE. 

